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Responding to the strong protest against move for VRS in BSNL from the Forum and the unions, the CMD BSNL Shri Anupam Shrivastava, in a statement from Pune has informed that there is no proposal at present to implement VRS in BSNL.

So far so good! The workers are being tested now and then to assess their reaction. Workers have understood the intentions of the management for VRS and they are not going to allow the same, which is against the interests of the workers and the company itself.

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After the CEC Meeting of the BSNLCCWF at New Delhi on 4th September 2015, Coms. V.A.N.Namboodiri, President, Animesh Mitra, Vice-President and Tapas Ghosh, Secretary General BSNLCCWF met Shri Anupam Shrivastava, CMD BSNL and Smt. Sujata Ray, Director (HR) and presented the main demands of the casual and contract workers including regulrisation, wage increase, implementation of minimum wage in many circles, social security measures EPF, ESI, Gratuity, Bonus, eligibility for casual labour to appear in the TM examinations etc. A detailed on the issues will be submitted on which the CMD and Director(HR)agreed to look in to on a priority manner.

The Hunger Strike by the CCLU leaders in Kerala has reached the 23rd day. Both the CCLU and BSNLEU leaders are on Hunger Strike demanding increased minimum wage, upgrading the workers to skilled cadres etc. No fruitful discussion has taken so far. Instead victimization is continuing. BSNLEU comrades been issued with dies-non and show cause notices. SNEA District Secretary has been transferred for supporting the agitation. Circle office-bearers of BSNLEU are being victimised.

On the other hand more and more support and solidarity is coming for the fully justified struggle from the workers and from many other trade unions. Many comrades sitting on hunger strike have been hospitalised. The struggle is getting more and more momentum.

Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri, President, BSNLCCWF and Patron BSNLEU, who is in UK contacted Shri Anupam Shrivastava, CMD BSNL today and intimated the serious situation in Kerala due to the adamant stand taken by the CGM and asked to intervene and settle the issue. CMD stated he has already spoken to the CGM in the matter. He stated that the CGM has been asked to discuss with the union to settle the issue.

Q. BSNL is very active in government projects. What is the status of projects like NOFN, NFS (network for spectrum), LWE (left wing extremists) and North East?

BSNL is executing projects worth Rs 25,000 crore ($4 billion) in the next 2-3 years. The projects which BSNL is executing include: NFS for Defence; NOFN for BBNL; LWE for left wing extremists states and North East project for improving connectivity in North East. All these projects are under implementation except North East project where BSNL is planning to float EoI (expression of interest) by next month.

Q.What is BSNL’s mobile expansion plan for Phase 7 and Phase 8?

In Phase 7, BSNL is investing Rs 4,804 crore for creating 15 million additional mobile capacity. The capacity addition will take care for both 2G and 3G. In Phase 7, BSNL is building 27,000 towers of which 15,000 will be for 2G and 12,000 for 3G. Presently, BSNL has around 97,000 towers.

BSNL has till date completed 60 percent of Phase 7 expansion and the project is planned to be completed by June, 2015. Phase 7 will help in plugging the gap of 2G, removing blind spots in mobile network and increasing data capacity by 30-40 times.

Q. What’s the update on tower leasing and land bank?

Tower leasing proposal has gone to the ministry for its consideration. The proposal focuses on creating a separate business unit, creating a separate subsidiary company within BSNL which is fully owned by BSNL and creating a joint venture.

On the land bank front, eight proposals have been sent to the ministry for building housing complex, IT park and commercial building. For both the proposals, we are awaiting the ministry’s approval.

We are planning enhanced CDR billing which will take care of fixed line, mobile and also leased line.

We are planning converged billing so that we can offer single bill to our consumer for all types of services. With converged billing, we can offer multiple tariff packages offering different services to our enterprise and retail customers. We can come up with different schemes targeting those customers depending upon their usage pattern. We will very soon come up with converged billing RFP on a revenue sharing model.

Q. BSNL is focusing a lot on Wi-Fi hotspots. How will this help BSNL in the long run?

BSNL has lots of copper cable and optical fiber cable which we want to exploit for data services. We want to utilize Wi-Fi hotspots and integrate it with 3G services for increased reach to mobile consumers. We are focusing on data in a big way such that it is a game changer for telecom industry. In future, if we play our cards well we would be successful in data services.

BSNL is planning 2,500 Wi-Fi hotspots in the next 2-3 years. For Wi-Fi, we have tied up with Quadgen Wireless for South and West on revenue sharing basis. We will very soon float tender to provide Wi-Fi coverage for North and West regions.

What is expected revenue for BSNL in FY 2014-15? When are you planning to be profitable?

BSNL revenue should cross Rs 29,000 crore in FY 2014-15 with a growth of 4-5 percent. In FY 2014-15, we would be operational profit or EBITDA comfortable. We plan to be profitable by FY 2018-19.

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Meeting of the CMD with Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations on 09-02-2015

Consequent to the serving of strike notice by the Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations, the CMD BSNL invited the Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations for discussion on 9th February 2015, which was held in the board room of BSNL Corporate office. S/Shri Anupam Srivastava, CMD BSNL, A.N.Rai, Director (EB and HR), N.K.Gupta, Director (CFA and CM), Sujata Ray, ED(Finance), Shameem Akhtar, Sr.GM (SR) and other officers participated from the Management. The Forum was represented by Coms. C.Singh, Chairman, V.A.N.Namboodiri, Convener and General Secretaries of the affiliated unions/associations. The meeting started at about 1500 hours and continued up to about 1900 hours.

The CMD in his introductory remarks mentioned that BSNL is a big company and this has to be taken into consideration while discussing the revival of BSNL. It has got a revenue of about Rs.28,000 crores and has assets worth Rs. 90,000 crores. While there was growth earlier, after 2006 it went down. There have been difficulties. Development of broadband is more important now. Data has become most important than voice telephony. Funds are required for the same, but taking loan is difficult since we have to pay the high interest also. Investment is required to expand the services. The entire issues have to be seen in this scenario. He congratulated the unions for taking up the issue of revival of BSNL.

Forum Convener thanked the CMD for holding the meeting and informed the decision of the Forum to organise a Parliament March on 25th February 2015 on the issue of Revival of BSNL and gave the noticer to that effect. He also mentioned about the efforts being made by the Forum for focusing the issue and propagating among the public. A Memorandum signed by more than one crore signatures from the public will be presented to the Prime Minister on the day of the Parliament March.

All the demands raised by the Forum were discussed. A brief report is given below.

Filling up posts of CMD BSNL and Directors: CMD post is already filled up. The filling up of posts of Directors, HR, Finance and CM has been taken up with Government. Selection is already over on certain posts.

Stop Formation of Subsidiary Companies: Forum stated that BBNL should be merged with BSNL and no separate Tower Company is to be formed. Management stated that the proposal for Tower Company is only to focus on the tower business, but it will only be a subsidiary company.

Grant of Compensation for providing rural services: The management fully agreed with the demand of the Forum for adequate compensation for the loss making services in the rural areas. CMD stated that even Rs. 1,250 crore approved in lieu of ADC is yet to be paid to BSNL by DOT. The Forum leaders demanded that the issue should be seriously pursued.

Procurement of equipment: The Forum demanded immediate procurement of Cable, Broadband Modem, Drop Wire, Mobile lines etc. for expansion. Management explained the present position. There was some problem with the tender of SIM card which is being sorted out.

Transfer of all assets to BSNL: The BSNL Management was in support of the demand, but the government has to take decision.

Drop proposal of BSNL-MTNL Merger: The Forum explained that until the three important issues of Disinvestment of MTNL, huge liability of BSNL and HR issues are sorted out, no merger will be accepted. The Management stated that no final decision has been taken in the matter.

Spectrum Liberalisation and trading by BSNL: Management stated that there is no bar as far as 3G is considered. But since 2G was allotted without auction, the government will not allow spectrum trading and liberalisation in 2G.

Fix pension contribution on basis of actual pay instead of on the maximum of the payscale: BSNL management stated that this issue is being pursued with DOT.

Surrendering 1.2 MHz spectrum by BSNL: Management stated no decision has been taken so far.

Reject M/s Deloittee Consultant recommendations: Detailed discussions took place in the matter. This will be further discussed with the Forum within 10 days.

Refund of BWA Spectrum charges to BSNL for the surrendered spectrum: This is being pursued.

Grant of 78.2% IDA pension fixation: The undue delay in the settlement of the issue was strongly protested by the Forum leaders. Management agreed to pursue the matter.

Implement Cabinet decision on 30% superannuation benefits to BSNL direct recruited employees: The Forum leaders strongly demanded that 30% superannuation benefits should be ensured to new recruits. After discussion, the management wanted a detailed note on the issue. This will be furnished by the Forum.

Management agreed to issue minutes of the meeting.

The meeting was cordial, but the issues are not settled, since most items are to be settled at DOT/Govt. Levels. Hence our preparation for the struggle should continue.

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Anupam Shrivastava, the new chairman and managing director of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL), has his hands full within weeks of taking over. In an interview with Mansi Taneja, he talks about an investment plan of Rs 39,000 crore over the next five years to expand BSNL’s core network and reviving the public sector undertaking in the next three years. Edited Excerpts:

BSNL has been making losses and performance has dipped on other fronts. What is your immediate priority?

BSNL has been making losses mainly because of depreciation of assets and administrative costs, which account for 55 per cent of our revenue. However, we are meeting operational needs through our topline. With a topline of Rs 28,000 crore and debt of Rs 4,500 crore, the situation is not that bad. The first priority is to change the direction of the company in such a way that losses are reduced year after year and there is enough compensation on depreciating assets.

What measures are you taking?

We realised we missed the mobile bus in 2006 when the penetration of cell phones was just 40-45 per cent. Now the penetration of mobiles has moved up to over 90 per cent. This is the journey, mainly voice, that BSNL has missed. But we want to make sure we are the leaders in data services. The age of voice is over and data is the next thing. We are in a strategic position, be it mobile, landline or optic fibre network.

How do you plan to leverage your network? Are there plans to integrate services?

We have invested Rs 4,084 crore in improving and expanding our mobile services. We are in the process of upgrading our core network. Purchase orders were placed last year and the network started rolling out in June. Almost 75 per cent of the project has been completed in the north and south zones. In the east, 35 per cent has been completed and work in the west has just begun.

We have a big landline base and with a huge copper cable and fibre network the focus shifts to Wifi. We will offer Wifi hotspots wherever commercially viable and offer an experience similar to 4G services. Also, we plan to launch our 4G service by 2016. The idea is to integrate Wifi with our mobile network to provide users a seamless experience of 3G and Wifi services.

We plan to invest Rs 39,000 crore in the next five years, a major chunk of it on data. The focus is on improving core network capabilities as we intend to exploit data. This is going to be a watershed year.

How much of your revenue comes from data?

Mobile services contribute Rs 13,500 crore, of which 10 per cent comes from the data segment and is consistently rising. From broadband services, we earn Rs 7,500 crore. We expect revenue from combined data and broadband services of Rs 15,000-16,000 crore in the next three years.

There was a proposal to offer voluntary retirement to your employees. How far has that gone?

The proposal was debated last year and would have required a Rs 12,000 crore outgo. But there were doubts over the plan. An alternative proposal was considered to offer salary support to employees. It would require Rs 6,500 crore, which the ministry agreed in principle to provide as a soft loan. Both proposals are pending with the ministry.

Last year, BSNL’s losses were around Rs 7,600 crore and in the previous year, around Rs 8,000 crore. So losses have already started coming down. We expect BSNL’s accounts to be in shape by 2018-19. (Courtesy: Business Standard)

The new CMD BSNL, Shri Anupam Srivastava, has called upon the CGMs to fast track the developmental activities and improve the profits. He has also addressed letters to the unions in this respect. Another circular has been issued for ensuring punctuality.

We appreciate the initiative of the CMD. We hope that this process and initiative will be continued and put in to action.

Shri Anupam Shrivastava, the newly appointed CMD BSNL, has appealed to the Unions/Associations to co-operate in strengthening BSNL and improving BSNL services. We are happy that he has given such an appeal and taken the Unions/Associations in to confidence.

The Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations had always wanted good co-operation and co-ordination between the management and the workers for improving the services and expansion. It has also suggested many proposals for the same. We hope that CMD will take all these in to consideration and act taking the workers in to confidence. Words have to be converted in to action and results will come.

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Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri, Convener Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations today, 16th December 2014 met CMD BSNL Shri A.N.Rai and discussed about the immediate actions to be taken by the Management and the workers for strengthening BSNL financially and also its services. Com. Namboodiri pointed out about the news report that BSNL has been penalised for not doing subscriber verification and suggested that strict verification should be insisted to avoid penalty.

He also pointed about the extreme scarcity of the SIM cards due to the discontinuing of the preparation of the same in Telecom Factory. CMD stated that there was some problem about the supply of chips received and it is being sorted out and the production will start without delay.

CMD stated that he will fix a meeting shortly to discuss the issues raised by the Forum.

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Coms. V.A.N.Namboodiri, President, P.Abhimanyu, General Secretary and Swapan Chakraborty, AGS, BSNLEU met Shri A.N.Rai, CMD BSNL and congratulated him on his new assignment.
They also discussed the various issues of the BSNL workers in detail.These included the victimisation of workers in Jamshedpur, Special Casual leave for the Central Secretariat Meeting etc. A detailed note will be published in the BSNLEU Website.

In addition, the union leaders also stated that the management should put pressure on the DOT for issuing early orders on the 78.2% IDA Merger for Pensioners. They also demanded that the Medical Allowance without voucher be restored at least for the pensioners considering the extreme difficulties being faced them for medical treatment.